Historic Jonesborough-My Muse

Today I had a promotional photo session for Slackjack Guitars.  My wife, who just happens to be my Media Director (Brandi Woodall at Positive Approach Events) picked out a few venues downtown to take some photos.  I have to say I was really impressed with how they turned out.  Turns out Jonesborough, TN is a great backdrop for Slackjack Guitars.

There is something to be said for a town that has so much history.  I guess I take for granted that everyone else knows about Jonesborough, but I guess a lot of folks just don’t.  So here’s a little bit about the town that inspires me. 

• It is the oldest town in Tennessee
• Many of the buildings in the town date back to the 1780’s
• Andrew Jackson practiced law here
• We still have ice cream socials and Music on the Square
• The merchants in town know you by name

I could go on and on about what inspires me.  We stopped by the Eureka Inn to visit with the Innkeeper, Maria this afternoon during the photo session.  Feeling a little inspired after strolling the streets, walking the railroad, and sitting on the steps of the Christopher Taylor House, I just wanted to play.  And play I did on the gazebo at the Eureka Inn…enjoy….

Have Box, Will Build

This weekend was spent being creative, not building..but research and development.  After scouring the local tobacco store just a few miles from home, I decided to branch out and go to a few of the shops in the surrounding areas.  I am sooo glad that I did!  While we didn’t quite know what to expect, I was particularly interested in a couple of shops that I had found online.

The first stop was about 45 minutes away.  As we drove, it started to snow…again.  Rather than get discouraged, we just took it all in stride and appreciated the beauty and touch of serenity it added to the experience.  And to top off our great mood was the fact that we got a great parking spot right across from the shop..so no schlepping through a downtown area in 20 degree weather with snow falling! 

 When we walked in, we were greeted by the shop owner and guests, they had a group of folks enjoying the football game and a stogie in the back.  Lucky for us, the boxes were already upfront and stacked so that they were easily accessible! 

After looking through the selection, I have to admit I walked away with some really nice cigar boxes!  I also found a couple of items I want to tinker with.  Not only did I barter a great deal, but I am proud to say that soon..a Slackjack guitar will be gracing the wall of this fine establishment.  (I’ll make that announcement and post pictures soon.)

We made a dash back to the car, excited with our new find and anxious to get to our next stop to look for more!  First…a stop at Lowe’s.  I have to say..I love the possibilities and the creativity that hits me when I walk into a hardware store.  Endless ideas….

After a couple of stops, we ended up back in Johnson City to hit Shamrock’s Cigar Shop.  This shop has been around for over 75 years, so they know their tobacco.  I have to say one common thread in the tobacco industry is how helpful and knowledgable they are about their products.  So after a couple of minutes of discussion with one of their employees, we acquired a few more boxes. 

So without further adieu, here are a few pics of the boxes..in no certain order.

I’m excited to say that in less than 24 hours after purchasing the Brick House Cigar Box, the box is SOLD!  And so the process begins, questions, sketches, and finally the build.  I’ll post pictures of the Brick House Cigar Box Guitar when it is complete…this one is going to be a beauty. 

If you are interested in any of the available boxes, just shoot me an email to slackjackguitars@gmail.com or give my home office a call at 423-753-0004.

Tunings–Part I

Check out this video.  Basically it is my personal 4-string cbg tuned to an open “G”…G-D-G-B, played fingerstyle.  This is a simple example of playing in this tuning.  I will post more videos with different tunings and playing styles soon.  If you have questions, e-mail me!!!  slackjackguitars@gmail.com

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Latest Deliveries

I delivered this guitar today to hopefully and very happy recipient!  She seemed pretty excited.

What Exactly Do We Do??

Fretted Like Dulcimer, played like a guitar

Fretted like a dulcimer, played like a guitar.

In addition to keeping the history and soul of the cigar box guitar alive (see previous posts)I also build other types of instruments from these boxes. Sure I make 3 and 4 string Blues Box guitars, but I also make cigar box basses, ukeleles and an interesting instrument that I don’t really know what to call…It is fretted like an appalachian/lap dulcimer but you play it like a guitar. Basically it is a 3-stringed instrument that is fretted on a diatonic scale. It is tuned to a specific key or scale and no matter what note you fret it sounds great!! It’s perfect for anyone who thinks they are not musically inclined because no matter what you play it sounds like it belongs!!! Now, all I need is a name for this darn thing….hmmmm. Can’t call it a strumstick (that is copyrighted you see) but it is played just like one. Dulcitar?? Mountain Stick?? Strum-box?? Anyway, maybe I should give one away to the person that comes up with the best name???

One thing that we really like to do is customized and themed instruments. If you have an idea for a certain design or look then meet with me and we’ll come up with an instrument for you. Have an occupation, school, college or university that you want us to make you an instrument after then we’ll do it. There are no rules and no limitations to playing a cigar box instrument so why should there be any rule or limitations to building one??

As far as custom stains and finishes we can do that too. You will see pictures of a really nice guitar that I recently built from an Arturo Fuente box. The antique finish was done in several steps and created a really interesting “old” or “vintage” affect.
You’ll also find that we use high quality woods like Maple, Walnut, Cherry, Poplar, Red Oak and exotic species from Asia and South America.

Now, let’s talk about the subject of electronics and pickups. Most of our instruments will come with inputs for plugging into an amp, as they are typically not loud enough to play acoustically in a band setting without microphones or amps…however, cigar box guitars are not meant to be expensive or “fancy” instruments. If you want a guitar that plays or sounds like a Martin or Gibson or Fender, etc then you should spend $1,000 and buy one. If you want an instrument that has heart and sould and can produce a sound like no other and will turn heads while doing it, then you should buy a cigar box instrument. Sorry, but had to get that off my chest!!! As I was saying, due to the nature of what these instruments are about, it doesn’t make much sense to put an expensive pickup in one of these things…but, if you want it you got it, just let me know what you want. Usually I put in a small microphone type buzzer in these things. They are affordable and really replicate the acoustical nature of the box well to give you a hollow, authentic bluesy sound. But like I said, if you want something a little more “modern” then by all means we can make it happen.

Well, that’s about all for now I guess.  If you want more information or would like to schedule a meeting then just send me an e-mail at slackjackguitars@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you!!!

Blue Plum Festival Giveaway

Are you dreaming of a Blue(s) Christmas??

SlackJack Guitars is giving away this 3-string cigar box guitar as a part of the Blue Plum Festival’s ‘I’m Dreaming of a Blue(s) Christmas’ promotion.  Please read our post on the history of the cigar box guitar.  These instruments were used to make Blues and Old Time music during the Depression Era and we are bringing back that piece of American History for you to enjoy. 

Cigar Box guitars are imperfect instruments.  They have flaws, they are not a $2,000.00 Martin or Gibson.  What they do have is a primal sound with more soul than just about any instrument you will ever get your hands on.  I love building these instruments because every one is different and they all have a unique sound that is their own.  You can play just about any kind of music on these things but for some reason the blues just fit like a glove. 

The specs on this particular guitar are:

• Scale Length:  24 3/4″ from bridge to nut
• Acoustic/Electric:  Has a built in mic type pickup for plugging into an amp
• 3 String Fretless (must have a slide to play) with fret markers burned into the wood
• Neck:  solid Walnut with a liminated walnut headstock
• Other parts:  A mix of old stuff laying around and new shiny pretty stuff–that’s what a cigar box guitar is supposed to be!!!
• Tuning:  It is currently tuned to an open G (G-D-G) but you can tune to any key you want.  You may break a string experimenting with different tunings but try it ’til you find what you like!! 
• THERE ARE NO RULES TO PLAYING OR TUNING A CIGAR BOX GUITAR, YOUR IMAGINATION IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL LIMIT YOU!!
• If you studied music theory, great!!  Take most of what you learned and toss it in the garbage then grab a cigar box guitar and play the lid off of it!! 

History of the Cigar Box Guitar

The Blues is trapped inside this guitar. It's up to me to let it out!

So you may wonder to yourself, what in the heck is this thing and why would anyone want to play one??  Well, there are a lot of answers to that question but it really lies inside of YOU.  My answer to you is, “WHY NOT?”

However, perhaps a little background of this fine piece of Americana will help open any closed minds that may read this, or will satisfy the curious mind that just wonders, “What is this thing anyway?” 

In the mid 1800’s cigar makers stopped shipping cigars in large crates and began using smaller, decorative boxes.  Like today’s cigar boxes they were well-made from quality woods such as Spanish Cedar, and often adorned with unique and decorative artwork.  During the Civil War it was not uncommon to see soldiers sitting around a campfire playing a simple homemade instrument made from a stick and old crates or, you guessed it, cigar boxes.  These instruments were basic one or two stringed violins, banjos or diddley-bows. 

After the Civil War the Industrial Revolution was about to be born and prosperous times would soon follow.  This boom paved the way for companies like C.F. Martin to revolutionize the guitar into what we know it to be today.  By the 1920’s times began to get very tough however.  During the Great Depression some things were indeed booming, although no one realized it at the time.  To deal with the hard times, families of all types used music as a way to spend time together and express their feelings about their day-to-day hardships.  This music is now known as The Blues, and it took on many forms depending on what part of the country you lived in.  It grew quickly from the Piedmont to the Appalachians and down through the Mississippi Delta.  In the Delta people like Lead Belly, Blind Willie Johnson and Robert Johnson were creating music that inspired the likes of Muddy Waters, John Coltrane, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck, The Rolling Stones and the list is limitless.  In the Piedmont and the Appalachian region artists like Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family were creating their own style of blues music, known now as Old Time.  Old Time was derived from Celtic music due to the strong Scottish influence in those areas.  Old Time and various forms of The Blues eventually blended together to form what we now call Bluegrass. 

One thing that the Delta musicians and the Appalachian musicians had in common was that they didn’t have the means to buy custom crafted instruments.  Therefore they made their own.  Most of these were simple one, two or three stringed instruments such as guitars, violins, banjos, dulcimers and diddley bows.  They also used practical household items such as spoons, washboards and jugs to create sounds that simply can’t be replicated without using the same instruments that were used during that period.  These instruments are a piece of our ancestry.  They are a piece of folk art and without a doubt, a piece of Americana.  It is up to us to keep that history alive.

So, what are you waiting for???  Order one from me today and see and feel what it is all about!!!

The Old blended with the new

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